Resilient vehicle-wheel



J. BHANLEY.

RESILIENT VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. I92o.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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NDRRIS PETERS.y |NC.. LITNDI. WASHINGTON C.

i PjAr JAMES is. HANLEmor rHILADELrHIA, rENNsYLvANIA.

RESILIENT iraniens-WHEEL.

nemesi.

I Application led February 27, 1920. Serial No. 361,855.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. IIANLEY, a

citizen of the `United States, residing atv Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved resilient vehicle wheel which will serve Ato eiiiciently absorb shocks caused by the movement of a vehicle over a roadwa Y gnother object is to makemy improved vehicle wheel in such manner that it will be durable and of a strong construction; thereby rendering it applicable for vehicles carrying heavy loads. i n

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in whichl Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of a vehicle wheel made in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec,-

tional view'taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3

and drawn on the same scale as Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 vis an enlarged transverse section taken on theline 3--3 of Fig. 1 and drawn f on a-larger scale, l

Fig. e is a fragmentary plan view'of` a portion of a rim, which forms a part of my invention, Viewed from the inside,

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view showing one of a number of spring-pressed plungers which form a part of my invention 1 y Fig. 6 is anelevationalview of one of a number of springs 'which I preferably employ in connection with the plunger shown in Fig. 5, and 1 Fig. 7 is a developed view showing the tapered character of a wire fromv which the spring of Fig. 6 is made. i

Referring to the drawings my invention includes a wheel felly` 8 to which is secured a metallic rim 9, said rim being preferably split transversely as shown in Figd. A number of metallic brackets 10 are detachably secured to the opposite sides 11 of the felly by screws 12. These brackets, as clearly shown .in Figs. 1 and 3, are arranged in annular formation, independently, and each of the brackets includestwo extensions or tongues` 13 which are spaced apart and provided with holes 14: throughwhich a pivot pin 15 extends. Two latches 16 are-pivotally secured to each bracket 10; eachv of erica Y said latchesV being yoked and provided with l fingers 17 which have holes through which the pivot pin 15 extends; said fingers of each latch spanning the tongue 13 of a respective bracket as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The fingers 17 on the outside, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, are normally flush with, the outerxsurface of the brackets 10 said surface of the brackets andthe adjacent surfaces of the fingers being'curved outwardly.

The portions 18 of the fingers 17 have innerv ends 19 normally positioned adjacent the side surfaces 11 'of the felly 8.- These portions 18 of the fingers 17 are adapted to swing within the space provided by the concave' surfaces 20l of the'brackets 10 and the sides of the felly Stand the inner surface 21' of the portions 18 ofthe lingers 17 are curved inwardly and adapted to engage outwardly swelled portions or beads-22 of a rubber tire shoe 23. rIhe side surfaces 11 of the felly 8 are grooved as shown at '24 and inwardly swelled parts 25 of the tireshoe 23 lit within these grooves-24. The latches 16 have arms 26 which fit against the outer surface-27 of the tire shoe'23 so 'that the pivot pins 15l are positioned between the swelled'portiorns of the tire shoe beadl and the tread portion 28 of said tire shoe. A f' The inner surface of the rim 9 has an an nularly extending central channel 29 and two other channels 30 and 31` which lare positioned to the side ofthe'channel 29, as

clearly shown vin Figs. 3 andi.y I'lungers 32l are slidable through holes 'intherim 9 and have cupped'heads 33 adapted to engage the inner surfacel 34 of the tire shoe 23. The holes 35, throughwhichthe plungers 32l slide, communicate with compara'- tively large cavities 36 leading in from the vchannel 29; said plungers being's'ubstantially parallel to lthe plane ofv rotatable movement of the wheel and being'rfadially disposed as clearly shown yin Fig. 2.

rIhe stems 37 of th plun'g'rs are grooved .adjacent their free', ends as shown at 38;

said free ends being vtaperedv outwardly as at 39 to permit the insertion of split retainingV rings .t0 within` the grooves 38 tol limit the outward movement ofthe plungers5'it being noted that. the retaining rings, as

shown in Fig. 3, engage the inner surfaces` oit'V thev cavities 36 and thereby prevent further outward movement of said plungers.

coils.

thus provided for Vthe plungers. Other Coiled springs 4l are interposed between the cupped Iheads 33 and the rim 9 to form a resilient backing for the plunger heads; said springs being made of wire which tapers toward the ends so that the innermost coils'of the springs are thicker than-the end A resilient but durable backing is plungers 42, which are constructed in the same manner'asthe plungers 32, extend at a slant through holes communicating withrthe channels 30 and 3l; the cupped heads engaging the side portions of the inner surface 34 at a slant to the horizontal as clearly shown in Fig. 3.. Thus the plungers 42 are capable of movement when any side pressure is placed upon the side of the tire shoe 23 so` that while the plungers 32 and their 26 encounter any obstacles in the roadway,Y

the movement of vsaid latches is against the cushioning effect of the sides er the tire shoe. Thus the latches serve as retaining vmeans for the sides ofthe tire shoe and also serve as yieldable protective armor therefor. i

VIt will be noted that by arranging the pivot pins as illustrated, when the arms 26 are moved inwardly the portions i8 of the fingers 17 will be moved voutwardly to allow expansion of the beaded portion where other portions of the tire shoe engaged by the arms 26 and the roadway are compressed.

. The tire shoe may be made of solid rubber or reinforced rubber and they springs and the plungers7 which are disposed Within the tire shoe, serve as yieldable means for abvsorbing, the shocks caused by the movement of a wheel over a roadway; said latches also being movable on their pivot pins to permit any necessary movement to'` the sides of the tire shoe as is obvious from the above construction. n

While'l Vhave Vdescribed my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts or my invention' may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to thekprecise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come Within the scope of the appended'claims.

' tia'lly as described.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new andl desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y lfThe combination in a wheel of a elly;

a resilient tire shoe having beads extending a resilient tire shoe having beads extending adjacent the Yopposite sides of the felly;

brackets secured to said sides of the felly;

latches pivotally connected to said brackets and engaging the sides of said tire shoe, said latches being pivotally mounted between their ends whereby lingers are provided for engagement with the beads of the tire shoe; and arms are provided Jfor engagement with the sides of the tire shoe between the beads andthe tread; substantiallyy as described.

3. The combination in a wheel of a elly; a resilient tire shoe having beads extending adjacent the opposite sides of the elly; latches being pivotally mountedv between their ends providing `lingers for engagement with theouter portions 0f saidbeads of the tire shoe; and arms ior engagement withy the side portions of the tire shoe between the beads andthe tread; substantially asdescribed. A

4.v The combination in a wheel of a telly; a tire shoey having beads extending adj acent the opposite sides of the folly; latches being pivotally mounted kbetween their ends providing fingers for Vengagement withthe outer portions of said beads of the tire shoe; arms `for Vengagement with theV side portions 0f the, tire shoe betweenthe beads and the tread; and means resiliently movable against the inner surface oi-said tire shoe to compress the latter against said arms whereby said latches areswung to normally move and hold said lingers in clamping engagement with the beads; substantially as described.

5. The combination in a wheel of arfelly;

a tire shoe havingV beads extending adjacent the opposite sides of the elly; latches being pivotally mounted between their ends prof viding fingers for engagement with the louter portions of said beads of the tire shoe;

arms for engagement withV the side portions of the tire shoe betweenthe beads andthe tread; a rim 0n said telly within vsaid Vtire shoe; and spring-pressed plungers slidably connected to said rim and adapted to bear against the inner surface of said'tire shoe,

certain of said plungers tending to press said tire shoe against the arms of said latches whereby the latter are swung to move the fingers inv clamping engagement with the beads of the tire `shoe;'substan 6. A. wheel including va tire shoe; a rim positioned within the tire shoe and having holes therein; plungers slidable lthrough the rim and having heads for engagement with the inner surface of the tire shoe; cushioning springs for said plungers, said plungers having grooves and outwardly tapering ends opposite said heads; and split retaining rings iitting said grooves for abutment with said rim t0 limit the outward movement of said plungers, said tapering ends of the plungers being adapted when inserted through the holes of the rings to spread the latter to permit the rings'to engage within the grooves; substantially vas described. n

In testimony whereoi` I have signed my name tol .this specification in the presence Yof two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES B. HANLEY.

Witnesses: y

ANNA BENTON, Cms'E. Poms. 

